My Century:
Five of us started at 5:00 AM at Willow Park, out on the west side of Fort Worth. We rode down to Cleburne, stopped for supplies, then continued on to Glen Rose. Then it was off to Iredell, then on down to Clifton. Our stop at Clifton was a combination Burger King/ convenience store.
Here's my hamburger. It was GOOD. This was at the 115 mile mark, by the way.
Charlie and Gary eating at Clifton.
Sharon caught some quick zzzs while the rest of us ate.
Then our route looped back up to Iredell again. We made a stop at Cranfills Gap for water on the way. Here's Charlie, Sharon, Gary, and Vickie at Iredell.
From there, it was a quick jaunt over to Hico, then we rode on up to Bluffdale. Here's the whole gang at Bluffdale, this was 186 miles or so.
From Bluffdale, we rode on to Lipan, got there about 9:30 at night. The reason we started at 5:00 AM was specifically so we could get to the store before it closed at 11:00, so all was well. Then on to Weatherford and ended up back in Willow Park about 1:55 AM with 249.8 miles.

I started at Avoca Park at the south end of the Little Miami River Trail:

This trail is board flat and the weather was perfect, so there wasn't much suffering to be had. There was a major race going on at Loveland and I had to be careful not to get in the racers way, although they didn't appear to be taking things too seriously.

I went through beautiful downtown Xenia:

The above is Xenia Landing, built to accommodate cycling visitors.

I slogged my way through Yellow Springs.

There was a street fair in Yellow Springs and it was a mess. Thousands of people on the trail made travel very slow.

So I made it to Springfield, turned around, and had to go mano a mano through Yellow Springs again.

It gave me a chance to go through beautiful Xenia again:

The Dayton spur took me past a drag strip. It made an airport seem serene. I wish I'd snapped a picture or two of it.

I ended up along the Mad River Trail in Dayton:

Unfortunately I ran out of trail and energy, but if packed blinkies, strobes and one packet of Gu that made the trip on the Dayton city streets safe enough.

I payed strict attention to my nutrition. I had one milkshake, two Cokes, three tacos and the above mentioned Gu. It doesn't need to be more complicated than that.

Today I'm tired but not sore. And there's a club century coming up in two weeks. I may be dumb enough to try it.

Thats it.

I have to try that route. I have never ridden up to Springfield - but have been to Yellow Springs and Young'a bunch. (Love the ice cream break)
I live in the working side of Oakwood. When I ride 100, I start out in Oakwood, ride to UD on the path behind Carmel's, to the river downtown and then out to London and back. Once past Cedar Springs, the ride gets a little ordinary. I like your route better.

I may try the fishing/cycling Century. Just pack a collapsible pole and a small tackle box.
The Dayton area is perfect for that!

My Century:
Five of us started at 5:00 AM at Willow Park, out on the west side of Fort Worth. We rode down to Cleburne, stopped for supplies, then continued on to Glen Rose. Then it was off to Iredell, then on down to Clifton. Our stop at Clifton was a combination Burger King/ convenience store.
Here's my hamburger. It was GOOD. This was at the 115 mile mark, by the way.
Charlie and Gary eating at Clifton.
Sharon caught some quick zzzs while the rest of us ate.
Then our route looped back up to Iredell again. We made a stop at Cranfills Gap for water on the way. Here's Charlie, Sharon, Gary, and Vickie at Iredell.
From there, it was a quick jaunt over to Hico, then we rode on up to Bluffdale. Here's the whole gang at Bluffdale, this was 186 miles or so.
From Bluffdale, we rode on to Lipan, got there about 9:30 at night. The reason we started at 5:00 AM was specifically so we could get to the store before it closed at 11:00, so all was well. Then on to Weatherford and ended up back in Willow Park about 1:55 AM with 249.8 miles.

What great memories you created! I like your hamburger. No shoes, no shirt, no helmet, no gloves - no service!

Good Lord! Why didn't you just go another 0.2 miles and call it 2 and half centuries on one ride? That's impressive!!

+1

I'm more than impressed by all the double century riders I've seen posting in here in the 50+ forum. I've never even done so much as a double metric. I wouldn't even have a clue as to what kind of pace to try and hold on a full double.

Much humble admiration.

"I never lost a race because my bike was too heavy".......George Mount

I'm more than impressed by all the double century riders I've seen posting in here in the 50+ forum. I've never even done so much as a double metric. I wouldn't even have a clue as to what kind of pace to try and hold on a full double.

My Century:
Five of us started at 5:00 AM at Willow Park, out on the west side of Fort Worth. We rode down to Cleburne, stopped for supplies, then continued on to Glen Rose. Then it was off to Iredell, then on down to Clifton. Our stop at Clifton was a combination Burger King/ convenience store.
Here's my hamburger. It was GOOD. This was at the 115 mile mark, by the way.
Charlie and Gary eating at Clifton.
Sharon caught some quick zzzs while the rest of us ate.
Then our route looped back up to Iredell again. We made a stop at Cranfills Gap for water on the way. Here's Charlie, Sharon, Gary, and Vickie at Iredell.
From there, it was a quick jaunt over to Hico, then we rode on up to Bluffdale. Here's the whole gang at Bluffdale, this was 186 miles or so.9.8
From Bluffdale, we rode on to Lipan, got there about 9:30 at night. The reason we started at 5:00 AM was specifically so we could get to the store before it closed at 11:00, so all was well. Then on to Weatherford and ended up back in Willow Park about 1:55 AM with 249.8 miles.

When this 249.8 mile ride was over when did you all get back on your bikes. I think you should have taken at least 24 hours off.

I didn't intentionally take time off, but had other things to do Sunday and worked late Monday, so just tonight got back on the bike. I don't think Sharon rode Sunday, so it'll probably be Saturday before she rides again; she'll likely do a spin class or something in the meantime. Don't know about the others. But we've all done 600k and longer rides, where you'll ride 220-250 miles the first day, take 5 hours off the bike if things work out right, then go ride another 150 or 200 miles. Gary's got the most RUSA miles of anyone, Sharon leads the women in RUSA miles, Vickie's racking up 1200k's, so they've been around the block a few times. Sharon rode the tandem with me on this ride.

Our Grand Tour training ride Saturday was almost a century (96.1 miles). We did have a fair amount of climbing, 1759 ft. It replaced our usual GT training ride from Flagstaff to Clints Well, which has less climbing but the altitude is higher

I cant say I have ever ridden an unplanned century. I have ridden several on my own, in which part were with the club ride then I rode more miles to make it to 90 or 100+

My wife and I have friends who retired to "Prescut". I did manage to take my bike on one visit up there, but was beset by a flat on unloading the bike, and a missing inflator (found it laying on the driveway when we got home). By the time one of the fine LBS's opened and I got it squared away, I was only able to get in a pathetic ten miles before having to return and be "sociable". Having driven up there a few times, I have "caged it" over all of that Prescott/Congress loop, and it looks like a fine ride.

As much as you paid for that Beemer [Mercedies, Audi, Escalade], I'm surprised it didn't come equipped with turn signals.

I'm a bit young to post in this forum (48), but then it's not the year, its the mileage...

I've got 2 in this year so far.
First one was a 200k Brevet. I figured I wouldn't make the finish time. I am ecstatic completing the miles, with about 7700 ft of climb! I did ensure I was equipped to be self supported and well lit so pack was a bit heavy. It was fun, and the randoneur people are marvelous!

Second 2 weeks ago., took a day off to "set my soul free". Set out for a century with route only roughly thought through. This was also fun. Most of the ride was discovering new riding territory. Got lost a lot. Only part that wasn't fun was the getting lost in a downpour going up and down hills only to make it back to where I first got lost...

Both were at paces that most would likely not post. First half of 200k, 11.7 (moving averages per Garmin 500 with default settings) for 4003 feet. The second half 11.1 for 3763 feet. The solo century was at 11.5 and 3087 ft.

My wife and I have friends who retired to "Prescut". I did manage to take my bike on one visit up there, but was beset by a flat on unloading the bike, and a missing inflator (found it laying on the driveway when we got home). By the time one of the fine LBS's opened and I got it squared away, I was only able to get in a pathetic ten miles before having to return and be "sociable". Having driven up there a few times, I have "caged it" over all of that Prescott/Congress loop, and it looks like a fine ride.

I definitely would ride the Skull Valley loop again, and would ride it with the added out and back from from Congress on the front and end (totally glad we are riding down Yarnell Hill at the end of the ride). It appears I fat-fingered the elevation.. it was 7159 ft, not 1759

I rode my first century (100 miler) in 1989. Since then I try to ride at least one, maybe more, organized century rides per year.

This year that goal will include the MS Coastal Challenge from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara.

BTW, for those of us who might be tempted to think that we are badasses because we ride a century, consider this.

Last year, One of my riding partners completed a double century (in one day). This year he will try for the California Triple Crown. By looking at him, you wouldn't think that he could ride 10 miles, let alone 200 miles--he is short and overweight, but he is got heart.

Another friend just recently completed the Bordeaux-Paris ride: 370 miles, over 13,000 feet of climbing in just in 25h10m.

My Century:
Five of us started at 5:00 AM at Willow Park, out on the west side of Fort Worth. We rode down to Cleburne, stopped for supplies, then continued on to Glen Rose. Then it was off to Iredell, then on down to Clifton. Our stop at Clifton was a combination Burger King/ convenience store.
Here's my hamburger. It was GOOD. This was at the 115 mile mark, by the way.
Charlie and Gary eating at Clifton.
Sharon caught some quick zzzs while the rest of us ate.
Then our route looped back up to Iredell again. We made a stop at Cranfills Gap for water on the way. Here's Charlie, Sharon, Gary, and Vickie at Iredell.
From there, it was a quick jaunt over to Hico, then we rode on up to Bluffdale. Here's the whole gang at Bluffdale, this was 186 miles or so.
From Bluffdale, we rode on to Lipan, got there about 9:30 at night. The reason we started at 5:00 AM was specifically so we could get to the store before it closed at 11:00, so all was well. Then on to Weatherford and ended up back in Willow Park about 1:55 AM with 249.8 miles.

I definitely would ride the Skull Valley loop again, and would ride it with the added out and back from from Congress on the front and end (totally glad we are riding down Yarnell Hill at the end of the ride). It appears I fat-fingered the elevation.. it was 7159 ft, not 1759

Congress to Yarnell would be my first "2" climb. Maybe the next time we go I could get dropped off at Congress and ride the rest of the way to Prescott. That would need a much earlier start on the driving (from San Diego'ish) than I think I can get the wife to consent to.

As much as you paid for that Beemer [Mercedies, Audi, Escalade], I'm surprised it didn't come equipped with turn signals.

I'm slowly coming back from injuries, so a century is just wishful thinking at this point. If I were up to it physically, the Hancock Horizontal Hundred (very flat) in NW Ohio in September would be a goal.

Congress to Yarnell would be my first "2" climb. Maybe the next time we go I could get dropped off at Congress and ride the rest of the way to Prescott. That would need a much earlier start on the driving (from San Diego'ish) than I think I can get the wife to consent to.

Congress can be warm in the summer. It was about 70 (or in the upper 60's) when we started at 6:20 last Saturday. It was comfortable all the way to Skull Valley, then it warmed up from there to Yarnell and back to Congress.

had my carpal tunnel surgery today and have my 64th bd in 3 weeks. thank goodness for aero bars because my 130 mile bd ride has to be done on the 12th. will start at 0400, then meet with sat am lbs guys at 0800 for a 40 miler, then finish off my ride